A couple of Scenario Design Questions...

[76mm]

I've been going through the Scenario Design docs here--super helpful, thanks much to Paul59 and RBS for their contributions.

But a couple of basic questions:
1) when adding troops, the troop types are not restricted to any particular army list, but seem to include all units from all the armies, which would make it easy to choose a troop type not available for a particular army list. Is there a way to restrict unit selection to a particular army list? What happens if I choose unit types from a variety of army lists?

2) Is there any way to import the troops into a scenario from a CSV file or similar? And is is possible to export unit strengths etc at the end of a battle?

3) It looks like I can vary the number of troops in the units using the BSF file--correct?

Basically what I'd like to be able to do is export army strengths after a battle, manipulate the data programatically (with something I'd code), then import into the next battle. Basically like a campaign, but with more control over unit replacements/reinforcements (for both sides) than in a standard campaign.

Thanks!

[Paul59]

I've been going through the Scenario Design docs here--super helpful, thanks much to Paul59 and RBS for their contributions.

But a couple of basic questions:
1) when adding troops, the troop types are not restricted to any particular army list, but seem to include all units from all the armies, which would make it easy to choose a troop type not available for a particular army list. Is there a way to restrict unit selection to a particular army list? What happens if I choose unit types from a variety of army lists?

2) Is there any way to import the troops into a scenario from a CSV file or similar? And is is possible to export unit strengths etc at the end of a battle?

3) It looks like I can vary the number of troops in the units using the BSF file--correct?

Basically what I'd like to be able to do is export army strengths after a battle, manipulate the data programatically (with something I'd code), then import into the next battle. Basically like a campaign, but with more control over unit replacements/reinforcements (for both sides) than in a standard campaign.

Thanks!

1) No, there is no way to easily restrict the unit selection to a particular army list. I did suggest that feature before FOG2 was released, but it was never implemented.

You could do it by creating a scenario specific Squads.csv file using only the units listed in the relevant Army List, I'm not sure if it would be worth the effort.

The scenario will still function if you select units from a variety of lists. When designing Epic battles I always make sure that I am using the correct unit, by checking the unit names in the scenario.BAM file once I have saved the scenario. But I often intentionally include units that are not actually in that particular army's Army List, normally because they are allies.

2) You could create a scenario specific Squads.csv file, but that would only give you the range of units to select from. I am guessing that you want something that says you have 5 units of Unit type A, 3 units of Unit type B etc. I don't know any way to do that, but I guess it might be theoretically possible.

Again, it might be possible to export unit strengths. I think the system does something similar for exporting/importing battles between FOG2 and FOG Empires, but I don't know much about that.

3) You can vary the unit starting strengths using a script in the .bsf file. None of my currently released scenarios have it, although there are several in future Medieval DLCs. But for those I have varied the starting strengths of whole armies, or certain unit types. I am guessing that you want to vary the starting strengths of individual units, which I guess is possible, but I have never actually done it before. I would try identifying each unit by it's map coordinates and applying the starting strength modifier to that. It would go under FUNCTION CustomiseUnits(), and each unit's script would look like this:

Code: Select all

	// Reduce unit A by 5%
	id = GetUnitOnTile(37,27);
	starting_strength = 95;

starting_strength =95, means that the unit starts at 95% of it's normal full strength.


Basically, I think what you want to do would require a herculean amount of work, but maybe RBS might be able to enlighten you more?

[rbodleyscott]

Basically, I think what you want to do would require a herculean amount of work, but maybe RBS might be able to enlighten you more?

Not really, it isn't at all a trivial task.

The campaign system uses entirely different data structures to transfer unit data from one battle to the next. It isn't compatible with Epic Battles.

The engine does have the facility for carry forward units in Epic Battles, but I have never used it, so I am not sure how it works. In any case, I am fairly sure it would just carry forward full strength unmodified versions of any units carried forward, which isn't what you want. (And wasn't what I wanted either, which is why I haven't used it).

[Paul59]

Basically, I think what you want to do would require a herculean amount of work, but maybe RBS might be able to enlighten you more?

Not really, it isn't at all a trivial task.

The campaign system uses entirely different data structures to transfer unit data from one battle to the next. It isn't compatible with Epic Battles.

The engine does have the facility for carry forward units in Epic Battles, but I have never used it, so I am not sure how it works. In any case, I am fairly sure it would just carry forward full strength unmodified versions of any units carried forward, which isn't what you want. (And wasn't what I wanted either, which is why I haven't used it).

Yes, a carry over system is used in some Battle Academy and BA2 campaigns, but like you I don't know how it works. Maybe one of our talented modders like Schweetness101 or Cronos09 might be able to figure it out.

[76mm]

Thanks a lot for the responses!